Motor starting apparatus



.Jan- 22, 1935 G. A. GILLEN 1,989,052

MOTOR STARTING APARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1932 www A OREY,

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 PATENT OFFICE MOTOR STARTING APPARATUS George A.Gillen, Bronx, N. Y., assigner to Gil- Stick Corporation, New York, N.Y., a

tion of New York Application November 3, 1.932, Serial No. 640,943

7 Claims.

This invention tems. 4

The objectsof the invention are to provide simple, inexpensive, easilyinstalled, rugged, practical and eilicient means for enabling startingof an automotive engine by a push button or the like, located at thedash or other convenient position on the vehicle and to furnish suchapparatusin a form readily applicable to existing starting motor systemsand without complicated wiring or the extension of long, heavy currentcarrying leads.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by the novelfeatures of construction, combinations and relations of partshereinafter described, illustrated and broadly claimed.

'Ihe drawing accompanying and forming part of the specificationillustrates one of the practical commercial embodiments of theinvention, but it is to be understood that the structure may be variedas regards this disclosure, all within the true intent and broadcoverage of the claims.

Fig. 1 is a broken part sectional and part'diagrammatical representationof the invention as i'n use on a startingsystem of more or less standardconstruction.

Figs. 2 and 3 are broken enlarged and partly sectional views of theelectromagnetic circuit closer as on substantially the planes of lines2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view oi' the push buttoncontrol switch for the circuit closer. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the latter on a plane atright angles to Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail, illustratingcertain modications. l

In Fig. 1, details of the starting system of an automobile of well-knownmake are indicated as 40 follows: i

The starting motor at 6, storage battery 7, ignition switch at 8 on thedash, or more properly speaking, thel bracket 9, of, steering column 10,

which is attached to the dash 11. This ignition 45 switch is controlledby a ilnger lever 12, which can be operated when the lock indicatedgenerally at 13 has been released bya proper key.

The present invention is used with these parts as follows:

relates to motor starting syslocated in the line 14- leading from thebattery to the starting motor, there is interposed anelectromagneticswitch indicated generally at 15 in Fig. land consisting in detail asshown in Figs. 2 and 3 of a solenoid coil 16, operating a core 17,

In place of the floor switch'which is usually (Cl. 20o-87) connectedwith a stem 18, carrying a contact 19, for bridging the contacts 20,which are connected in the starting motor circuit. This Whole mechanismis enclosed in an insulated casing shown as made up of the two halfshells 21,22, secured together by through bolts 23, over an intermediatesupporting and grounding plate 24, which, as appears in Fig. 2, is cutout at to closely receive the solenoid coil and has a smaller connectingcutout portion 26 to freely receive the switch parts. 10

The shoulder 27 between these two communicating open portions of theplate serves to definitely position the end of the coil thus providing amechanical reinforcement to the casing sections, which themselves, asshown at 28 in Fig. 3, have 15 half round cavities shaped to fit andhold the coil.

The stationary contacts 20 of the starter switch are shown in Fig. 3 asof generally L-shaped form with the bases of the Ls located closelyadjacent the end of the coil and the backs of the Ls as 20 Vseated incorrespondingly shaped cavities 29, in the opposite section of thecasing. To further hold these contacts against turning they are shown ashaving squared studs 30, projecting from the backs thereof, throughcorrespondingly 25 shaped openings in the casing sections and they areheld in this non-turning relation by nuts 31, engaged on the outer screwthreaded ends of the studs, additional nuts 32 serving for securing theends of the heavy leads from the battery and to the starting motor.

The magnetic core of the solenoid is shown as of hollow form and thusadapted to receive the circuit breaking spring 33, which located withinthe length of the coil is a feature in keeping the 35 unit small andcompact.

'Ihe movable bridging contact 19 is shown as carried by an insulatingbushing 34, slidably pressed by spring 35, against shoulder 36 on thestem, which construction enables the solenoid 40 core to have a slightfurther movement after the contacts are engaged, as indicated in Fig. 2,permitting the movable contact 19 a certain selfadjusting or seatingmovement on the contacts 20 and, in the circuit opening action, enablingthe core to start its movement under the impulse of spring 33 andto'snap the movable contact off the iixed contacts 20. By thisconstruction, a full ilrm closing of the circuit is assured and when thecoil is de-energized, the movable contact is i snapped oi its seat toquickly interrupt the starting motor circuit. The upper bar 37 oftheskeletonized mounting plate stands over the upper or outer end of thesolenoid stem 18 and hence, as indicated in Fig. 3, may be utilized as asolid abutment, limiting the outstroke of the movable core. Similarly,at the bottom or opposite end, the cross bar 38 of the skeletonizedplate is in line with spring 33 and may support the spring abutment plug39, in the lower end of the coil, thus taking the thrust oi the springand saving the hollow sections of the insulating casing from carryingthis load.

One end oi' the solenoid coil designated 40, is shown as brought to aninsulated terminal 41 on one section of the casing and the other end ofthe coil, as shown at 42, in Fig. 2, is simply bared and brought outover the face of the mounting plate 24, at one sideof the openingtherethrough, in position to be clamped iirmly against said plate whenthe casing sections are 4tightened thereover.

As this mounting plate is connected with-a part ofthe main structure ofthe vehicle, a-grounded `return for the coil is thus provided.

In Fig. l, the mounting plate is shown as having a slightly angledextension portion 43, caught beneath the bolts 44 on the steering armgear case at the foot of the steering column. 'I'his particular locationbrings the magnetic switch practically in a direct line between thebattery and starting motor, where the heavy current connections areshortest. v

The control switch for closing circuit through the solenoid coil isshown as mounted at the dash, on the steering'brcket 9, by being seatedin a bore 45, which .is usually provided in such brackets.

In detail, the switch is shown as consisting of a sleeve 46, tting inthe bore 45 and held at the back by an enlargement 46, engaging the backof the bracket and at the front by a nut 47, screwed on the outer end ofthe sleeve and bearing against the i'ront of the bracket. Theenlargement 46 constitutes a housing for a movable switch memberconsisting of insulating bar 48, xed on screw 49, engaged in the end ofplunger 50, said bar carrying a contact 51, to bridge contacts 52,carried by insulating cap 53, closing the outer end ofv said housing.

A plate 54, Fig. 5, held to the inner end of the housing by extensionlugs 55 of the cover, bridging the switch bar 48, serves as an abutmentfor spring 56, acting against the shoulder 57, to thrust the push buttonplunger outwardly to the open circuit position indicated in Figs. 1 and4.

'I'hepush button dash switch is shown as connected to control thesolenoid coil by a lead 58 from the insulated terminal 41 of the coiland by a short connection v59 to one of the terminals of ignition switch8, which latter has a connection with the battery at 60.

When the loci:` 13 is released by a proper key and handle 12 can beturned to close circuit through switch 8, as must be done for starting acar, the control switch will then be cut in circuit, so that operationof the push button will close a circuit through the solenoidv coil. Thelatter will immediately close circuit through the starting motor. Hence,after the main switch is unlocked, the dash switch becomes eiective tocontrol the starting of the motor, but is ineil'ective and inoperativeso long as the main switch is locked.

'I'he invention, as to added parts, consists of simply the two units,the solenoid switch and the dash lswitch and these are quickly andeasily mounted and connected by simple short wiring. 'I'he heavy currentwiring extends only from the battery to the starting m'tor and only lowcurrent leads are carried to the dash.

`The `magnet coil is fully protected electrical] and mechanically by thecomposite casing of insulating sections and intermediate frame plate.The insulating sections serve as insulating mounts for the insulatedcoil terminal and for the combined terminals and switch contacts of thestarting motor. The frame portion of the plate serves as a reinforcementfor'the insulating sections and extending completely about the casing,as it does, it acts as a guard to take accidental blows. such as mightcome from a hammer or wrench used in the vicinity of the switch.

The coil, as customary in such cases, may be wound on a suitable spooland this may be constructed as indicated in Fig. 6, with a protrudinghollow guide 61 for the magnetic core, s aid guide seating in half roundcavities 64, in the partition elements 62 of the casing sections,

whereby the spool is definitely centered in the casing. In this view,there is also shown how the end of the coil, which is to be grounded,that is the end designated 42, may be secured by solder or the like, asindicated at 63, in a drilled opening through the outer bar of the frameplate. The

frame plate extends far enough from the side of the casing to permit thesame being bent at different angles tosuit special locations.

What is claimed is:

l. A starting switch unit, comprising a skeletonized mounting platehaving an opening there,

through, a switch casing consisting of cooperating insulating casingsections secured to opposite sides oi' the mounting plate over theopening therethrough, a magnet coil seated ln said plate opening betweenthe casing sections, armature and switch elements operating in saidplate opening and Aswitch contacts carried by the casing sections inposition for engagement by said plate projecting at one side frombetween said lswitch element and said skeletonized mounting casingsections to aflord a means for support-4 ing a complete unit.

2. A starting switch unit, comprising'a skelef, tonized mounting platehaving an opening therethrough, a switch casing consisting ofcooperating insulating casing sections secured to opposite sides of themounting plate over the opening therethrough, a magnet coil seated insaid plate opening between the casing sections, armature and switchelements operating in said plate f opening, switch contacts carried bythe casing sections in position for engagment by said switch element,said magnet coil having an insulated terminal on one ofthe casingsections and the opposite end of said coil having a bared terminalportion secured to the mounting plate, whereby the mounting plate ismade the other terminal for the coil and said skeletonized mountingplate projecting at one side from between said casing sections to afforda means for supporting a complete unit.

3. A starting switch unit, comprising a skeletonized mounting platehaving an opening therethrough, a switch casing consisting ofcooperating insulating casing sections secured to opposite sides of themounting plate over the opening therethrough, a magnet coil seated insaid plate opening between the casing sections, amature and switchelements operating in said plate opening, switch contacts carried by thecasing sections in position for engagement by said switch mounting plateand said skeletonized mounting plate projecting at one side from betweensaid casing sections to aiord a means for supporting a complete unit.

4. A starting switch unit, comprising companion casing sections, amounting plate held between said casing sections and having a cavity inline with the space between the casing sections, a solenoid coil held inthe cavity of the mounting plate between said casing sections, a coreactuated by said solenoid, avswitch contact carried by said core andcooperating switch terminals carried by the casing sections in positionto be bridged by the switch element carried by the core and saidskeletonized mounting plate projecting at one side from between saidcasing sections to afford a means for supporting a complete unit.

5. A starting switch unit, comprising companion casing sections, amounting plate held between said casing sections and having a cavity inline with the space between the casing sections, a solenoid coil held inthe cavity of the mounting plate between said casing sections, a coreactuated by said solenoid, a switch contact carried by said core,cooperating switch terminals carried by the casing sections in positionto be bridged by the switch element carried by the core, a spring withinthe coil acting against the solenoid core, said spring and the oppositeend of the core being in line with overstanding end portions of themounting plate.

6. A starting switch unit, comprising an insulating casing, a solenoidcoil within said casing, spaced switch contacts inside the casingadjacent one end of the coil, a core operating in the solenoid coil, aspring within the coil acting to thrust said core outwardlytoward thespaced switch contacts, a bridging contact slidingly mounted on saidcore and movable thereon in a direction away from the spaced contactsand a spring on the core acting to force said sliding switch contact ina direction toward the spaced switch contacts.

7. A switch of the character disclosed, comprising a two part insulatingcasing, a metallic mounting plate interposed between the two parts ofthe insulating casing and having a mounting and grounding lug portionprojecting therefrom, a magnet coil mounted in said casing and havingone end of the sameelectrically connected with said interposed mountingand grounding plate, an insulated terminal for the other end of saidcoil mounted on one of the insulating casing parts and cooperatingswitch elements located in the insulating casing, one of them actuatedby said magnet coil and another having a terminal on the insulatingcasing.

GEORGE A. GILLEN.

